Alok had been waiting for this moment for years. For the Brazilian DJ and producer, India wasn’t just another stop on his tour—it was a homecoming of sorts. His name, his family’s story, and a connection he had always felt but never fully explored had all led him here. And this time, he wasn’t alone.
As we sat down for our interview at Lollapalooza India 2025, Alok had his mother and wife by his side. His excitement was obvious. “This trip is so special to me,” he told Rolling Stone India, his eyes lighting up. “My mom’s name is Ekanta, my brother is Bhaskar, my sister is Jaya, and my father is Swarup. Our names are deeply connected to India.”
That connection goes way back. Before he was born, Alok’s parents—both legendary psytrance DJs who founded Brazil’s Universo Paralello festival—traveled through India. It was during that journey that spiritual guru Osho gave him the name Alok, which means light in Sanskrit.
Music was always in his blood, but as his career took off, something felt missing. India had been calling him back, and this time, he finally answered.
The world knows Alok for his festival anthems and chart-topping hits. But for him, it’s about something bigger. “I’m about impact,” he said. That realization came when he became a character in the game Free Fire. “They asked me what superpower I wanted, and I said, ‘Can I heal people?’ I wanted to heal inside and outside the game.”
And he wasn’t just talking. Alok donates all his Free Fire earnings to social projects—bringing clean drinking water to 20,000 kids and supporting communities in Brazil, India, and Africa. In India, he’s working with Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi to protect children’s rights. When he pledged a million dollars to causes here, people asked him, “Why India?”
His answer was simple: “I feel emotionally connected to this place. I want to give back where it’s needed.”
A decade ago, he admits, he wouldn’t have understood philanthropy the way he does now. “If you had asked me then, I would’ve thought, ‘Why not just buy a nice car?’ But then I felt this huge emptiness. Giving back filled that void. It gave me purpose. Honestly, that’s how I found God.”
Alok has spent years at the top of global DJ charts, playing massive festivals, dropping hits like Hear Me Now. But now, he’s shifting focus. He recently launched Something Else, a new monicker that lets him create music without pressure. “Everything became about big productions, massive hits, and playing the industry game. I needed something to bring me back to where it all started—just making music for the love of it. I don’t care if this next project doesn’t top the charts. I just want to create freely.”
The love he’s receiving in India has been overwhelming. “Today, they wanted to take me to a temple, but we couldn’t even get out of the car because of the crowd. That kind of love means so much to me.”
And he’s not leaving without making something special.
“I’m releasing a song with Kr$na,” he revealed. “I’m a big fan, and it’s crazy that he’s here at Lollapalooza too. It just feels meant to be.”
Alok’s trip to India wouldn’t have been complete without doing what he does best—bringing people together through music. And his set at Lollapalooza India was quite literally a party. From the moment he hit the stage, the energy was unreal. He took the crowd on a ride, mixing his signature electronic sound with everything from Bollywood beats to American and Spanish hits. The second he dropped an Indian track, the place exploded—fans jumping, singing at the top of their lungs, completely lost in the moment.
“India, this one’s for you!” he shouted, grinning as thousands screamed back. It was pure chaos, the best kind—the kind where music connects everyone, no matter where they’re from.
Alok performed at Lollapalooza India, produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live.
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